<p>Location is definitely important, as is persistence. I know some of these people…well, they could have jobs. But they don’t take the offers they get because they’re waiting for the “perfect” job offer.</p>
<p>For older son the secret to getting work straight out of college was pretty simple.
- Being in a field that is in demand. (computer science)
- Being very good at it.
- Having been employed since he was 16. (He was lucky to have a relative who was so impressed when I asked if he could job shadow for a week, that they ended up hiring him.)
- Great connections at his college.</p>
<p>Younger son worked at Tufts last summer and should have a part time internship this spring overseas. We talk all the time about the importance of networking and gaining skills and having experience. To that end he has also been working very hard at becoming fluent in Arabic. He has a friend who graduated last year who got a newspaper job in Cairo writing in Arabic from her Tufts education.</p>
<p>And yes, about that family business both my boys have done work for my architectural office which was on their resumes at least for a while.</p>
<p>I didn’t work during high school, but starting the summer after high school, I have always had a job during the summer. The jobs I had the summers after freshman and sophomore years of college have both been paid research positions. This last summer I worked for about 13 weeks full time in my research group.</p>
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<p>I absolutely agree. I know three seniors who will be graduating from college this year. All three have already received very good job offers in the field of computer science/engineering. All three gained valuable experience during summer internships. Their university has an outstanding reputation for producing highly qualified graduates.</p>
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<p>This is our approach for school year spending, but we also expect our S to pay the “student contribution” computed by his school from summer earnings. He has loans as part of his package, and if he earns more than he needs, he uses that to reduce his loans.</p>
<p>Both last summer and the coming summer he’s had 12-week internships (during a 13 to 14 week summer) where he has/will work full time. (This summer he may work more than full time given the nature of the job and the reputation of the employer.) During the school year he works about 5 hours per week (while taking 18-22 credits!). He doesn’t spend much beyond his required books, so that works for him.</p>
<p>Istt-- if you are hoping to leverage connections with professors, then showing up for those things is a must, not a “nice to have”. And a kid who needs to be constantly dating in lieu of getting involved in extra curric’s on campus- hey, good luck.</p>
<p>Two of my kids first jobs after graduation came from professor’s picking up the phone and calling someone in their network. Literally- one phone call from a professor landed an interview which led to a professional, career track job in the desired field/industry (not location but hey, you have to be flexible.) I think of the zillions of online resumes kids are sending out to the black hole of job boards and am grateful that wasn’t my kids fates.</p>
<p>I have recruited for large companies for most of my professional career and if I had an undergrad in front of me whose entire life on campus consisted of hanging out, sleeping, and going to class, that would be a very short interview. My current company hires a range of majors but looks for evidence of leadership, intellectual versatility, and a host of other soft skills. We care very much if a student takes advantage of campus life beyond Frat parties and beer pong. You are right- it doesn’t matter what, but it needs to be something that shows an awareness of the world, or of art that isn’t “South Park”.</p>
<p>I can’t speak for grad school admissions reps. But for large corporate employers, NOT having participated in any of the offerings of a large and rich campus community is a huge red flag. Yes- time management is important. But really- you are too busy going on dates to show up when Bill Clinton and Bono are speaking at a symposium on Global poverty???</p>
<p>blossom: agree with your post. i have a son who is a HS senior who excels academically. he hasn’t held a job other than a few unpaid internships. Since we are wrapping up with his college application process (two more essays to do for merit), getting his driver’s license is #1 on the to do list. He got his permit over a year ago but didn’t find time to practice behind the wheels. this summer, he will get a job working in retail. this will probably be his only opportunity to work during summer. The next four summers will probably be filled with career/education related activities. </p>
<p>I don’t expect him to hold a paid job during school year. His “job” is to 1) study 2) networking 3)get involved in his college community. we will monitor closely and make sure that his performance meets our expectations in all THREE areas. In particularly, #3.</p>
<p>I was expected to work enough to cover what I wanted from the day I turned 14. Started my job the next day.</p>
<p>This included paying for my car, insurance, a cell phone, spending money, etc. I worked about 12-15 hours a week till I went to college, more in the summers.</p>
<p>When I went to college I worked about 10-15 a week during the school year and full time during the summers. After Junior year summer when I had my internship I kept the job during my first semester part time in addition to my school year job so I was probably working about 40 hr’s a week. </p>
<p>I could have worked less but that’s about what it cost to have money for food and car and phone during college. :)</p>
<p>Sent from my DROID BIONIC using CC</p>
<p>Blossom, what would your work think of someone like me who worked full time rather than be involved in university activities? Still red flags?</p>
<p>My own kid’s high school and college years were focused on an EC which is not a sport. A number of years later, kid’s closest friends are people met through that EC, many of whom went to different high schools and colleges. Kid met spouse through that EC. At the wedding, they had the photographer take a photo of all the people who had participated in that EC. It was an awful lot of people!</p>
<p>My kid’s career is one typical for this group and the EC group has morphed into a wonderful professional network for them. Spouse’ s career is very atypical for this group. The skills learned through the EC have been very helpful, especially since they are skills often lacking in this profession. I doubt spouse will ever go into the private sector, but if that happens, there’s a client list. </p>
<p>The list serve for the group is a rich source for post-college employment. A lot of kids in the EC take a couple of years off and work before going on to grad or professional school. They let people know the job will be opening up before they go. One fairly large company was so impressed with one of these kids–one of the few who did not return to school–that HR called him in and asked “How do we get more people like you?” That company now recruits at one of the EC’s events every year. </p>
<p>Lots of ECs appeal to people who go into certain professions. If you’re interested in journalism, being on the campus newspaper, radio, or TV staff can be great experience. If you want to act, performing on campus is important. If you are interested in working in the financial sector, many campuses have investment clubs where you’ll learn the basics and, again, make friends with people going into this area. Some schools have competitions for undergrad start-ups. Come up with the best idea for a start-up and you may win seed money. The amounts are in the hundreds of thousands of dollars. Venture capitalists often attend the competitions, looking for ideas to invest in. </p>
<p>Interested in politics? The campus Democratic and Republican clubs may help you find opportunities to get involved in local as well as national campaigns. I know a US senator that organized a series on funding political campaigns during his school years. He met a lot of the biggest donors and best fundraisers by doing that. He tapped them later when he ran for office. </p>
<p>IME, companies are as interested in these EC experiences as they are in paid employment. One kid I know listed being business manager of an a capella (sp?) group and making all the arrangements for their tours as experience. It got him a job.</p>
<p>While the OP’s husband sounds a bit heavy-handed, I do NOT think that it’s a “workaholic” thing to expect your adult child, whom you are supporting, to work full-time when not in school.</p>
<p>S would certainly continue working at least part-time in the summer. And, in truth, he does spend too much time on his computer. It’s the repeated insistence on H’s part that bothers me, along with the all-or-nothing approach. </p>
<p>^Last night I was telling H that 2 of the schools that I adjunct for part time might want me to take a temporary fill-in position next school year. I said that I would have to choose, and he asked why I couldn’t take both.</p>
<p>the title of this thread should be called “how to live with a controlling spouse”.</p>
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<p>Tell him you have reconsidered based on what he urged. Inform him of what his new duties will be now that you will be going full time. </p>
<p>I knew a guy who had the same attitude. His wife went full time due to his suggestion. He changed his mind really quickly after he had to pick up a lot of slack when she did.</p>